Festooning device



May 13, 1952 E. l. LEED FEsTooNING DEVICE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 7,1949 l l l l glu/vwo@ EDGAR I. LEED ao: um;

May 13, 1952 .1. LEED 2,596,157

FESTOONING DEVICE Filed July 7, 1949 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 IW/YM EDGAR I-LEEDPatented May 13, 1952 FESTOONING DEVICE Edgar I. Leed, New Holland, Pa.,assigner to Armstrong Cork Company, Lancaster, Pa., a corporation ofPennsylvania Application July 7, 1949, Serial No. 103,443

11 Claims. 1

This invention relates to a iestooning device and more particularly toan automatic device for holding sheet material to prevent the same fromslipping as the festoon is being started.

In the stoving of sheet material such as linoleum, it has been commonpractice to hang the material in long festoons in stoves or curingchambers. In order to increase the capacity of the stoves, severalfestoons are formed within one another. In some instances as many as sixor more festoons are hung within one another over the same batten roll.'Io accomplish this, the stoving operation is performed intheconventional manner, lling the stove first with one festoon per battenroll; and the operation is repeated, filling the stove the second timewith festoons placed Within -the previously formed festoons. Thisoperation is repeateduntil the desired number of festoons are placed oneach hatten roll. i

Prior to the present invention, this stoving operation was a diiicultone inasmuch as the batteri rolls were pulled into position inengagement with the lincoming sheet material and a festoon-making padwas manually forced into eri-1A gagement with the face of the materialto rmly hold the same on the batten roll While the festoon was beingformed. The possibility for error in applying the pressure pad at theproper moment was rather great, and the operation has alwaysf beenrather tedious and difficult.

In order to overcome the disadvantages of the old system of makingfestoons, I have developed a device in which the batten rolls are pulledinto position with the incoming sheet material;` and when the hattenroll has advanced to the proper position, the pressure pad automaticallydrops and clamps the material between the pressure pad and the battenroll, preventing slippage, thus forming a new festoon. l

The object of this invention is to provide a machine which willautomatically clamp material in engagement with a batteri roll until afestoon is formed and will thereafter automatically be retracted andcocked ready to re peat the operation at the proper time.

In order that my invention may be more readily understood, it will bedescribed in connection with'the attached drawings in which:

Figure I is a side elevational View of a sheet material stoving carriageembodying my invention with the clamping device in cocked or readyposition;

Figure II is an enlarged viewv of the clamping device in raisedposition;A and into the stove.

Figure III is an enlarged view of the clamping device in operativeposition, clamping the sheet material on the surface of the batteriroll.

Referring to Figure I there is shown a side elevational view of thedevice of my invention in the position it assumes in a sheet materialcuring stove. Along the top of the stove are two channel railsdesignated by the numeral 2, positioned one on each side of the stove.On top of the channel rails 2 and secured thereto are gear racks 3 whichrun the entire length of the stove. Only a portion of the rear rack 3 isshown in Figure I, the remainder being eliminated to better illustratethe device of the invention. Positioned on top of the rails 2 andmovable thereon is a sheet material stoving cariage 4 comprising a framework 5. rI'his carriage 4 is moved along the gear racks 3 by means ofgears S which are mounted on the frame 5 and are in engagement with theracks 3.

Slidably mounted on the bottom flanges of the channel rails 2 are thebatten rolls l. These batteri rolls 'I are round except for their endswhich are shaped as shown in FigureIII so they will slide on the bottomportion of the channel rails rather than rotate as they are moved along.

Mounted on the carriage 4 is a drum 8 which is driven by means of chainengaging the sprocket ID secured to the drum 8. This chain 9 is a partof the feed-in mechanism of the stove and operates from the main drivingroll (not shown) which pulls the material into the stove. The speed ofrotation of the drum 8 is synchronized with the speed of the pull-inroll so that no slippage occurs. Mounted on the lead-in end ofthecarriage is an idle roll Il which merely supports the sheet material asit passes thereover. The sheet material is designated by the numeral l2and travels into the stove in the direction ofarrow A. Immediately belowthe driven drum 8 is a small idler roller i3 which lies in engagementwith the material as it passes In Figure I a batten roll 'l is shownwith one festoon of sheet material disposed thereon, and the secondfestoon is being formed.

In order to make the necessary adjustments to properly guide thematerial into the festoon, the driven roll 8 is mounted in pivotbearings I4 which are adjustable horizontally. This horizontaladjustment is accomplished by moving the mounting I6 in a horizontaldirection by means of the lever Il. The bearing I4, which ispivotally'mou'nted on the member I6, pivots as the mounting is movedhorizontally, thereby eliminating the possibility of the bearing andshaft binding.

Immediately above the batten roll 1 in Figure I is a pressure pad I6which is capable of exerting pressure on the sheet material I2, clampingit tothe batten roll 1 to prevent slippage thereover at the time afestoon is being started. In the view shown in Figure I the festoonbeing formed to the left of the batten roll 1 is of suicient length tocreate enough friction to prevent the material from slipping over thebatten roll, and the pressure pad has been raised and cocked ready forthe next festoon. Figure III shows the pressure pad in position,clamping the sheet material to the batten roll at the start of a newfestoon.

The pressure pad is comprised of a friction surface I9, which ispreferably of a hard flexible material such as belting material. Underthis friction surface is a layer of soft resilient material, such assponge rubber, 20. The purpose of this structure is to present afriction surface for engagement with the sheet material and have itbacked by a resilient material so that the sheet material will not bedeleteriously affected thereby. In the preferred embodiment two pressurepads are provided across the carriage, each pressure pad beingapproximately 12 inches wide. These pressure pads are carried on holders2| which are in turn secured to a channel beam 22 disposed across thecarriage. This beam 22 is carried on rocker arms 23 keyed to a shaft 24.Also keyed to shaft 24 is latch arm 25. The

shaft 24 is mounted for free rotary movement:l

within the framework of the carriage.

Mounted on top of the carriage and centrally thereof is a ratchet wheel26 keyed to a shaft 21. Also keyed to shaft 21 is a sprocket 28. Mountedon shaft 21 immediately beside the ratchet wheel,`

of the bell crank 29 and capable of engagementw with ratchet wheel 26 isa pawl 3|. Pawl 3|y is provided with a laterally extending pin 32. Apawl release 33 is attached to the top of beam 22 and extends upwardlyto a position where it can'engage the pin 32 to release pawl 3| from theratchet wheel 26. Since the bell crank 29"` is free to rotate aboutshaft 21, such rotary movement is limited in a clockwise direction -bypawl 3l and in a counterclockwise direction by a stop 34.

At the extreme left of the machine is a sprocket 45 which is providedwith a take-up spring 46. This take-up spring 46 permits the sprocket 45to move horizontally a limited distance.

At the bottom of the carriage in engagement with the batten roll 1 is abatten mover hook 35 which is attached to a movable block 36 positionedbelow the undersurface of the top ange of channel rail 2. This block 36is held in stable position by means of a roller 31 which rides on theundersurface of the top flange of the channel rail. Attached to block 36is -a sear actuating trigger 38 which is so positioned that it will Yengage a Sear 39 mounted on the framework of the machine.

within the sear 33 is a coil spring 42 which holds the sear 39 up andout of the way of trigger 38 when the latch is not in use. A secondspring 43 isprovided to urge the sear into recess 44 on the bottomsurface of the latch arm to hold the entire pressure pad assembly in itscocked position.

A chain 41 passes over a manually driven sprocket 48 to which isattached a hand crank 49. This chain 41 also drives sprockets 28 and andcarries the block 36. Directional idler sprockets are provided wherenecessary to guide the chain 41.

vIn order to prevent the block 36 from moving to the left carrying thebatten roll with it there is provided on the block a ratchet surface 56which is engaged by a pawl 5|. Pawl 5| is pivotally attached to abracket 52 by means of a pivot pin 53. This arrangement permits the pawl5| to engage the ratchet 50 and prevent the block r36 from moving to theleft. I-Iowever, the pawl 5| does not prevent the block 36 from movingto the right.' As the block 36 is moved to the right, the pawl 5| isdisengaged from the ratchet surface and swings freely about the pivotpin 53. Inasmuch as pawl 5| swings freely about pin 53, it does notinterfere with the return of the block 36 to engage another batten roll.When the block 36 is being moved forward, the upstanding member carryingthe ratchet 50 engages the dangling pawl 5| and swings the same intoposition in engagement with the ratchet 56. The batten mover hook 35 ispivotally mounted on the block 36 by means of pin 54 which passesthrough block 36. This allows the hook to swing freely in acounterclockwise direction as it is being returned to Ibring in the nextbatten roll. :Swinging movement in a clockwise direction is limited by astop 55 attached to the block 36. This stop 55 holds the hook 35 inproper position for moving the batten roll. The trigger mechanism 38 issimilarly mounted so that the stop 56 keeps the same standing upright toactuate the sear 39. The spring 51 holds the trigger in engagement withthe stop 56 and also allows the trigger to pivot in a clockwisedirection when the block 36 is being returned Ifor another batten roll.The stop 55 is adjustable so that the trigger can be adjusted to releasethe latch at the precise moment so that the time of fall of the pressurepad will be just right to strike the batten roll lwhen it is in properposition. This time of fall will not be the same when placing the sixthfestoon on a batten roll as it was when placing the rst festoon thereon.Therefore, an adjustment is necessary.

In order that the carriage can be held in a xed position with respect tothe rack 3 there is provided a pawl 58 attached to the carriage which iscapable of engagement with the teeth of the rack 3. When it is necessaryto move the carriage, the pawl is raised by pulling the cord 59 attachedthereto releasing the pawl from the rack and leaving the carriage freeto roll in the gears 6. The carriage is moved manually by placing thehand crank 49 on the square end 60 of the shaft on which two of thegears 6 are mounted.

In order to limit the distance which the hook travels in its return topick up the next batten roll, .the element carrying the ratchet 50 isprovided with a flat vertical surface 6| which engages the stop 62 onthe sprocket support 63. .Ituwill be understood that a chain 41 islocated Z-on lboth sides of the machine; also a block 36 -turned tobring forward batten roll 1. accomplished by rotating the hand crank 49in sure pad I8 drops.

Vtioned kon both sides ofthe machine. However,

`only'oneblock .36 carries the trigger 38.

The operation of the device will now be explained, starting from `theposition shown in Fig- 1 to prevent slippage, the pressure pad is nolongerrnecessary. The hand crank 49 is rotated in a-clockwise directiondrawing chain 41 in the direction of arrow B. Since block 36 is securedto chain 41, block 36 also moves in the direction of arrow B, carryingwith it the battenroll 1 engaged by hook 35. Batten roll 1 is moved to anal position at the right of the device beyond the portion `shown in thedrawing; the block 36 carrying the batten mover hook 35 is then re-'Ihis is `a counterclockwise direction so that chain 41 will move in theopposite direction carrying the block 36 and hook 35 into the positionshown in dotted lines at the left of Figure I. The hook 35 is stopped inthis position by reason of the surface 6Istriking the stop 62.

When the festoon being formed between batten roll 1 and the idler rollI3 approaches the desired length the hand crank 49 is again rotated in aclockwise direction, pulling batten roll 'I' in the direction of arrowB. Batten roll 1 contacts the incoming sheet material at a pointdirectly beneath the idler roll I3. It is essential that the speed ofthe forward movement of the batten roll be the same as the incomingspeed of the sheet material so that no slippage occurs Abetween thepoint at which the batten roll touches the material and the point atwhich the pres- As the batten roll 1 comes into position under thepressure pad I8, the trigger 38 carried by the block 36 strikes thelower end of seal 39, pivoting the same about point 4I and moving thetop of the sear out of engagement with the recess 44 on the bottomsurface of latch arm 25. Latch arm 25, being keyed to shaft 24, is theonly means for preventing shaft 24 from turning in a counterclockwisedirection. Since latch arm 25 has been released, the entire pressure padassembly drops under its own weight, clamping the sheet material betweenthe pressure pad I8 and the hatten roll 1. This stops the formation ofthe festoon on batten roll 1, and a new festoon starts to form betweenbatyten roll 1 and the idler roll I3.

After suicient material has formed on the festoon so that it createssuihcient friction to prevent slippage, the pressure pad is elevated bymeans of turning the hand crank 49 in a counter- 'clockwise direction.This rotates sprocket 28 and ratchet wheel 26 both keyed to the sameshaft in a clockwise direction. Since the pawl 3| attached to bell crank29 is in engagement with the ratchet wheel 23, this action also rotatesthe bell crank 29 in a clockwise direction. Cable 30 attached to theperiphery of the bell crank 29 raises the entire pressure pad assembly,pivoting` the arms 23 and 25 with .the shaft 24 as a center. This upwardmovement continues until latch arm 25 strikes the stop 34. As the latcharm 25 is beingraised by the actionof the bell crank, the end of the armengages the cam surface on the sear 39 which is heldthereagainst by thespring 43. When arm 25 strikes stop 34, it is sufficiently high thatsear 39 slips into the recess 44, holding latcharm 25 and the entirepressure pad mechanism in elevated position. At vthis time 16 thepressure pad assembly is in the position shown inFigure II.

While the pressure .pad is being elevated as .described above, fa .block36 `is prevented .from moving vbackwards by reason of the ratchetsurface 56 on block 36 which is engaged by pawl 5I attached to bracket52. Since the block 36 is held in position, the chain 41 along thebottom of the device does not move and the chain used in raising thepressure pad assembly is made available by the springtake-up 46 attachedto sprocket 45, permitting the same tomove horizontally.

After the pressure `pad mechanism has been elevated as shown in FigureII, the hand crank is turned clockwise which rotates sprocket 28 andratchet wheel 26 in a counterclockwise direction. As this isaccomplished, bell crank 29 rotates with ratchet Wheel 26. However, withthe raising of the pressure pad assembly the pawl release 33 has beenraised to the position where it will immediately be engaged by pin 32lifting the pawl 3! from engagement with the ratchet wheel 26, and thebell crank to which pawl 3| is attached is freed from the ratchet wheel.Bell crank `29 is free to rotate about shaft 21. It rotates under itsown weight until it strikes the stop 34. This allows cable 30 to hangloosely permitting free fall of the pressure pad assembly whenthe sear39 is tripped. Pawl 3i remains out of engagement with the ratchet wheel26 until the pressure pad assembly drops. When the pressure pad assemblydrops, pawl release assembly 33 drops with it and the pawl f 3l `engagesthe ratchet wheel 26.

After the Weight of the pressure pad assembly is .removed from the cable30, the sear 39 is the only thing holding the assembly in its cockedposition. The weight of the assembly moves the sear down by reason ofslot 49, stretching spring 42. This moves the sear down far enough thatit will be in the path of trigger 38.

As a precautionary measure, a second cable 64 is provided attached toshaft 21 and to the arm 23, This cable 64 is provided to stop the free-fall of the pressure pad assembly in the event the same is tripped at atime when no batten roll is in position under the same.

It will be clear from the above that I have developed a festooningdevice which is easy to operate and which is certain of applyingpressure to the batten roll at exactly the proper moment to mostadvantageously clamp the sheet material between the pressure pad and thebatten roll.

While I have illustrated a preferred embodiment of my invention, it willbe understood that the same is not so limited but may be otherwiseembodied within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a festooning device for directing a continuous web of sheetmaterial onto supporting members, the combination comprising a hook forengaging the supporting member tbl move it into engagement with the webof sheet material, a pressure pad assembly positioned over the path oftravel of the` supporting member, said pressure pad assembly comprisinga resilientl material-engaging surface, a bell crank to elevate'thepressure pad assembly, and a sear to hold the Ysame in inoperativeposition; a trigger carried by the hook to actuate the sear yto release`the pressure pad assembly at the time the supporting member ispositioned therebeneath, and common means for moving said hook andactuating said bell crank.

2. In a device for directing a continuous web of sheet material to formfestoons on supporting members, the combination comprising apressure-applying device for holding the Web of sheet material inengagement with the supporting member While the festoon is beingstarted, a bell crank for raising the pressure-applying device fromengagement with the web of sheet material, a sear for holding thepressure-applying device in inoperative position, means disposed on thefestooning device for moving the supporting members in a horizontal pathpassing through under the pressure-applying device, a trigger positionedon said supporting member moving means to release the sear to bring thepressureapplying device into engagement with the web of sheet materialdisposed over the supporting member, and common means for actuating boththe supporting member moving means and the bell crank.

3'. In a device for directing a continuous Web of sheet material to formfestoons on supporting members, the combination comprising apressure-applying device for holding the web of sheet material inengagement With the supporting member While the festoon is beingstarted, a bell crank for raising the pressure-applying device fromengagement With the material, a sear for holding the pressure-applyingdevice in inoperative position, a movable hook disposed on thefestooning device, said hook being so positioned as to engage thesuporting members to move the same in a horizontal path passing throughunder the pressure-applying device, a trigger positioned on said hook torelease the Sear to bring the pressure-applying device into engagementwith the web of sheet material disposed over the supporting member, andcommon means for actuating said hook and said bell crank.

4. In a device for directing a continuous web of sheet material to formfestoons on supporting members in a curing chamber, the combinationcomprising a pressure-applying device for holding. the web of sheetmaterial in engagement with the supporting member While the festoon isbeing started, a bell crank for raising the pressure-applying devicefrom engagement with the web of sheet material, a sear for holding thepressure-applying device in inoperative position, a hook disposed on thefestooning device and so positioned as to move the supporting members ina horizontal path passing through under the pressure-applying device, atrigger positioned on said hook to release the sear to bring thepressure-applying device into engagement with the Web of sheet materialdisposed over the supporting member, common means for actuating bothsaid hook and said bell crank, and means for holding the hook in a xedposition While said bell crank is being operated to raise thepressure-applying means.

5. In a device for directing a continuous web of sheet material to formfestoons on supporting members, the combination comprising apressure-applying device for holding the Web of sheet material inengagement with the supporting member While the festoon is beingstarted, a bell crank for raising the pressureapplying device fromengagement with the web of sheet material, a sear for holding thepressure-applying. device in inoperative position, a

hook disposed on the festooning device and so positioned as to move thesupporting members in a horizontal path passing through under thepressure-applying device, a trigger positioned on said hook to releasethe sear to bring the pressure-applying device into engagement with theweb of sheet material disposed over the supporting member, common meansfor actuating both said hook and said bell crank, and a ratchet on thehook assembly for engagement with a pawl for holding the hook assemblyin a fixed position While said bell crank is being operated to raise thepressure-applying means.

6. In a device for directing a continuous web of sheet material to formfestoons on supporting members, the combination comprising apressure-applying device for holding the web of sheet-material inengagement with the supporting member while the festoon is beingstarted, a ratchet Wheel and a bell crank for raising thepressure-applying device from engagement with said Web of sheetmaterial, a sear for holding the pressure-applying device in inoperativeposition, a hook disposed on the festooning device and so positioned asto move the supporting members in a horizontal path passing throughunder the pressure-applying device, a trigger positioned on said hook torelease the sear to bring the pressure-applying device into engagementwith the web of sheet material disposed over the supporting members, andcommon means for actuating both said hook and said bell crank.

'7. In a device for directing a continuous web of sheet material to formfestoons on supporting members in a curing chamber, the combinationcomprising a pressure-applying device for holding the web of sheetmaterial in engagement with the supporting member While the festoon isbeing started, a ratchet Wheel and a bell crank for raising thepressure-applying device from engagement with the web of sheet material,a pawl attached to said bell crank for engagement with said ratchetWheel to impart rotary movement to the bell crank, a sear for holdingthe pressure-applying device in inoperative position, a hook disposed onthe festooning device and so positioned as to move the supportingmembers in a horizontal path passing through under the pressure-applyingdevice, a trigger positioned on said hook to release the scar to bringthe pressure-applying device into engagement with the web of 4sheetmaterial disposed over the supporting member, and common means foractuating both said hook and said bell crank.

8. In a device for directing a continuous We of sheet material to formfestoons on supporting members, the combination comprising apressure-applying device for holding the web of sheet material inengagement with the supporting member While the festoon is beingstarted, a ratchet wheel and bell crank for raising thepressure-applying device from engagement with the Web of sheet material,a sear for holding the pressure-applying device in inoperative position,a pawl release to release the bell crank pawl from the ratchel wheel topermit the ratchet wheel to rotate separately while the pressureapplyingdevice is in inoperative position, a hook disposed on the festooningdevice and so positioned as to move the supporting members in ahorizontal path passing through under the pressure-applying device, atrigger positioned on saidhook to release the sear to bring thepressure-applying device into engagement with the web of sheet materialdisposed over the supporting member, and common means for actuating bothsaid hook and said bell crank.

9. In a device for directing a continuous web of sheet material to formfestoons on supporting members, the combination comprising apressure-applying device for holding the web of sheet material inengagement with the supporting member while the festoon is beingstarted, a bell crank for raising the pressure-applying device fromengagement with the web of sheet material, a cable connected to saidbell crank and said pressure-applying device, a sear for holding thepressure-applying device in inop.- erative position, a hook disposed onthe festooning device and so positioned as to move the supportingmembers in a horizontal path passing through under the pressure-applyingdevice, a trigger positioned on said hook to release the sear and bringthe pressure-applying device into engagement with the web of sheetmaterial disposed over the supporting member, and common means foractuating both n,said hook and said bell crank. W

10. In a device for directing a continuous web of sheet material to formfestoons on supporting members, the combination comprising apressure-applying device for holding the sheet material in engagementwith the supporting member while the festoon is being started, a bellcrank for raising the pressure-applying device from engagement with theweb of sheet material, a scar for holding the pressure-applying devicein inoperative position, a hook disposed on the festooning device and sopositioned as to move the supporting members in a horizontal pathpassing through under the pressure-applying device, a trigger positionedon said hook to release the same and bring the pressure-applying deviceinto engagement with the web of 10 sheet material disposed over thesupporting member, and a chain for actuating said hook and said bellcrank, said chain passing over a take-up sprocket to enable a portion ofthe chain to be used for rotating the bell crank while the hook is heldin a fixed position.

1l. In a device for directing a continuous Web of sheet material to formfestoons on support ing members, the combination comprising apressure-applying device for holding the sheet material in engagementwith the supporting members While the festoon is being started, a bellcrank for raising the pressure-applying device from engagement with theWeb of sheet material, a sear for holding the pressure-applying devicein inoperative position, a hook disposed on the festooning device and sopositioned as to move the supporting members in a horizontal pathpassing through under the pressure-applying device, a trigger positionedon said hook to release the chain to bring the pressure-applying deviceinto engagement with the web /of sheet material disposed over thesupporting member, and a continuous chain for actuating said hook andsaid bell crank, said chain passing over a spring-urged sprocket toenable a portion of the continuous sheet to be used for actuating thebell crank while the position of the chain carrying the hook is held ina fixed position.

EDGAR I. LEED.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 640,170 Barlow Jan. 2, 19001,952,261 Kerst Mar. 27, 1934

